Shop Darlington Contest and your chance to win one of three $100 cash prizes continues through Christmas! Shop at five DIFFERENT Darlington businesses from Thanksgiving to Christmas, send in receipts with an entry form, and you are entered into the drawing. The drawing will be held the first week in January. More details here.

The City of Darlington Fire Department presented its annual awards during its December meeting: Fire Fighter of the Year - Captain Brandon Maloch; Chief's Pet Award - Captain Brandon Maloch; Drake-Beckham-Stone Award - Firefighter Clint Deas; and Agitator of the Year Award - Firefighter Seth Cavanaugh. Attendance awards went to Assistant Chief Charles Bailey and Capt. James Jett for responding to the most calls.

Former League of Women Voters of Darlington County President Sheila Haney presented Michelle Wallace, Darlington Library Branch Manager, with a copy of her newly published book, In Her Shoes: A History of the League of Women Voters of South Carolina, 1920-2020. Also attending the presentation were new Darlington LWV president, Barbara Carroway; vice-president, Joyce Franklin; and LWV members Portia and Jeff McJunkin. Copies of the book have been donated to all libraries within the Darlington County Library system and will be available for the public to check out. In addition, the book is available for purchase in both hard copy and electronic format from Amazon.com.

 

Today

The Knitting & Crochet Club of Lamar will meet at 4 p.m. on Mondays at the Lamar Library, 103 E. Main St., Lamar. Info: 843-326-5524

Green Banks 101: Exploring the Potential for a Green Bank in South Carolina. Join the State Energy Office of the South Carolina Office of Regulatory Staff for an informational webinar on green banks at 2:30 p.m. Dec. 14. Green banks are funding mechanisms that bring together commercial, public, and mission-driven capital to provide financing for energy projects. A key recommendation that emerged from the Energy Efficiency Roadmap Initiative completed this fall was to explore of the feasibility of a green bank in South Carolina.

Monday Night is Spaghetti Night at Joe's Grill, 306 Russell St., Darlington. Served with salad, bread, and tea for $8.95.

Pickle Ball at Darlington Country Club, 125 Country Club Road, Darlington, will be held at 7 p.m. Mondays, Tuesdays, and Fridays.

Alcoholics Anonymous meets weekly at 8 p.m. Monday nights at Trinity United Methodist Church in Darlington. Use the Orange Street entrance. Info: 843-395-6897

 

Tuesday

Pace Makers, a faith-based community walking program, meets twice a week from 7:30 a.m. to 8 a.m.  on Tuesdays and Fridays at Byerly Park in Hartsville. The purpose of this group is to build community through diversity. Info: Anna Grace Hubbs, Free Medical Clinic of Darlington County, 843-398-0060 or AnnaGrace.Hubbs@fmcdc.org

Temple Free Will Baptist Church's Don Squires will hold a weekly Bible Study and fellowship every Tuesday morning at 9 a.m. at Taki's Diner, 609 Pearl St., Darlington. Come at 8:30 a.m. for Dutch breakfast.

The Rotary Club of Hartsville meets at 1 p.m. Tuesdays at Pam's Restaurant, 1009 W. Bobo Newsome Hwy., Hartsville.

Joe's Grill celebrates Wing Night with 50-cent wings for supper on Tuesday nights at 306 Russell St., Darlington. Dine-in only.

Wing specials, Drink Specials and Karaoke Every Tuesday Night at the Darlington Moose Lodge, 1056 N. Governor Williams Hwy., Darlington.

Darlington Country Club will continue to have Tuesday Family Night dinner from 5:30 to 7 p.m. at 125 Country Club Road. Now our Members can bring the kids out for a fun filled night while they enjoy a quite dinner. 843-393-2196. 

Pickle Ball at Darlington Country Club, 125 Country Club Road, Darlington, will be held at 7 p.m. Mondays, Tuesdays, and Fridays.

 

Wednesday

Please plan to join St. Matthew's Church on Wednesday, December 16, at 6:30 p.m. at the church, 210 S. Main St., as we present our annual Festival of Lessons and Carols.  The Festival is a worship service of hymns, carols, choral works, and organ selections that celebrates the birth of Jesus. The members of our Chancel Choir will lead us through this special and moving service. Our Festival is based on an original service which occurred on Christmas Eve 1880 in a wooden shed used by the Bishop of Truro (later the Archbishop of Canterbury) as his cathedral. In 1918 that first service was adapted for use in the chapel of King's College, Cambridge by its Dean, Eric Milner-White. Wherever the service is heard and however it is adapted, whether the music is provided by choir or congregation, the pattern and strength of the service, as Dean Milner-White pointed out, derive mainly from the scripture lessons. The main theme is the development of the loving purposes of God as seen through the windows and words of the Bible. Don't miss this wonderful, yearly celebration!

Book Club will be held at 10 a.m. on Dec. 16 and the third Wednesday of the month at the Lamar Library, 103 E. Main St., Lamar. Info: 843-326-5524

The Darlington Professional Women meet at noon on Dec. 16 and on the third Wednesday of the month at Darlington Country Club. This month's program is the annual gift exchange!

St. Matthew's Church will hold a Virtual Men's Bible Study at 7 a.m. on Wednesdays and a Virtual Women's Bible Study at 12 Noon on Wednesdays.

Sunrise Rotary Club of Hartsville meets every other Wednesday at 7:30 am at Hampton Inn & Suites of Hartsville, 203 E. Carolina Ave. The Rotary Club of Hartsville is a part of District 7770 of the Eastern South Carolina. (843) 229-2729 or hartsvillesunriserotary@gmail.com

Wednesday Night Dogfight begins each week at 5:30 p.m. at Darlington Country Club. Register at the Pro Shop by 5 o'clock. Food provided.

Enjoy Wine Down Wednesdays at Chianti's Wings & Things, 124 Cashua St., Darlington, from 4 to 9 p.m. with wine and wing specials.

St. Matthew's Church will hold Virtual Church at 5:30 p.m. on Wednesdays and a Foundation Class at 6:15 p.m. virtually and at The Purple Fish, 110 E. Hampton St. (Mask required)

 

Thursday

BINGO will be held at 11 a.m. on Dec. 17 and the third Thursday of the month at the Lamar Library, 103 E. Main St., Lamar. Info: 843-326-5524

Darlington Kiwanis Club will meet at 1 p.m. Dec. 17 and every other Thursday at Darlington Country Club, 125 Country Club Road, Darlington. Speaker: Ann Miles will present a musical Christmas program.

The Rotary Club of Darlington meets at noon on Thursdays at the Darlington Country Club, 125 Country Club Road.

Enjoy classic Shrimp-N-Grits (or pork chip and grits) at Joe's Grill on Thursday nights at 306 Russell St., Darlington.

Fahrenheit 225 will have Trivia & Rock Bingo Night on Thursdays beginning at 7 p.m. Pick up to-go orders at 26 Public Square, Darlington. Call in take-out orders at (843) 944-0321.

Al-Anon, a fellowship of adult relatives and friends of alcoholics for mutual support, will meet at 8 p.m. on Thursday at the Hartsville AA Hut, 310 S. McFarland St. Info: 843-992-2981

 

Friday

Pace Makers, a faith-based community walking program, meets twice a week from 7:30 a.m. to 8 a.m.  on Tuesdays and Fridays at Byerly Park in Hartsville. The purpose of this group is to build community through diversity. Info: Anna Grace Hubbs, Free Medical Clinic of Darlington County, 843-398-0060 or AnnaGrace.Hubbs@fmcdc.org

Don't leave town for a nice dinner! You can enjoy a steak dinner every Friday night at Joe's Grill, 306 Russell St., Darlington.

Each Friday, Excel Gymnastics and Tumble Academy will be having Fun Gym from 7 p.m. to 9 p.m. at the academy, 102 Lamar St., Hartsville. Games, prizes, fun and more. Cost is $15. Pizza and drinks can be added for an additional $2.50. Open to the public. For ages 3 and up. Info: (843)-917-0022

 

Saturday

The Darlington Soup Kitchen is open from 8 a.m. to 9:30 a.m. Saturday mornings at 586 W. West Broad St.

The Darlington Moose Lodge Annual Turkey Shoot returns Saturdays at 3 o'clock at the lodge, 1065 N. Governor Williams Hwy., Darlington. Huge Prizes, New Range Master, Food and Drink Specials every Saturday! Sponsored by Darlington Gun Works, Piggly Wiggly, Wingz & Ale, Southland Gun Works, Mayflower Seafood Restaurant, and Fahrenheit 225. Come by for a chance to win Turkeys, Gift Cards, TVs, Steaks and more! 843-393-2311 

 

Sunday

Darlington Presbyterian Church Live Nativity Drive Thru will be held from 6 to 8 p.m. Sunday, Dec. 20, at the church, 311 Pearl Street, Darlington. Info: 843-393-4851 or dpchopeingod.org.

Dominion Church will hold an Ugly Christmas Sweater party from 6 to 8 p.m. Dec. 20 at the church, 1030 Pearl St., Darlington.

Children's Activities begin at 5 p.m. Sundays with Kids for Christ at the Kid Central Building then share the love of God with them through teaching and songs from 6 to 7 p.m. for Children's Musical Practice at Central Baptist Church, 512 Spring St., Darlington.

St. Matthew's Church will hold a morning service at 8 a.m. on Sundays. Virtual Church Service and In-Church Service will be held at 11 a.m. Sundays at the church, 210 S. Main St., Darlington. Please call the Parish Office at 843-393-4112 to reserve a spot.  

Parking Lot Church in the grassy area behind the ball field at 10:30 a.m. at Mechanicsville Baptist Church. There will be ushers directing you where to park your vehicle. Once parked, please tune your radio to 102.5FM. All are welcome.

Wesley Chapel United Methodist Church in Lamar will hold services at 11 a.m. in person or online. Masks required in person. (843) 332-1188.

Lee Street First Church of God brings the Word of God to you. Connect via Facebook Live or Zoom 646-558-86-56 ext. 222 777 7676. Sunday worship service at 11 a.m. Tuesday midday prayer at noon. Wednesday Bible Study at 6 p.m. Prayer Hotline 1-888-409-8880. Info: https://us02web.zoom.us/j/2227777676 Church Phone: 843-393-2672

Prayer on the Square will be held at 4 p.m. Dec. 20 and on the third Sunday of each month. Come together for fellowship and spiritual uplifting. Open to all.

 

Monday

The Board of Directors of Darlington County Water & Sewer Authority will meet in the conference room at 131 Industrial Way, Darlington, at 5 p.m. on Dec. 21 and the third Monday of the month.

 

Mark Your Calendar

City of Darlington offices will be closed Thursday, Friday, and Monday, Dec. 24-28, in observance of the Christmas holiday. Offices will re-open on Tuesday, Dec. 29. Trash will NOT be collected on Dec. 25 due to the Christmas holiday. Collection will resume on Saturday.

The Greater Darlington Chamber of Commerce will hold the Mayors Masquerade Ball on Thursday, Dec. 31, 2020. Tickets are $25 and include food, music, and champagne toast at midnight. Cash bar. Limited tickets. 843-393-2641

Train the Trainer (T4T) opportunity will become available in January 2021.  On Jan. 20-21, community members will be able to attend a two-day virtual AS+K? About Suicide to Save a Life Training. AS+K? is a basic gatekeeper T4T that covers key information about suicide prevention, and enables trainers to then facilitate trainings throughout their communities. If you would like to be considered for the training, please complete the registration link. You may contact Tinotenda Martin at tinotenda.martin@scdmh.org with additional questions. Pre-registration link

Join the South Carolina Department of Commerce for a virtual webinar training on USMCA (NAFTA 2.0) Updates from 10 a.m. to noon Thursday, Jan. 21. For more information and to register please contact: Norris Thigpen at 803-737-0598 or nthigpen@sccommerce.com.

 

BUSINESS OPERATIONS & CAPACITY

Click here for a list of what businesses are operating and at what capacity. Please send information to info@buildupdarlington.org or text 843-992-1561 to update a listing. We will continue to update this link, www.buildupdarlington.org/covid19, as we get information.

• Darlington County Courthouse will be restricted to appointment only to maintain social distancing requirements. Call 843-398-4100
• City of Darlington Offices will be restricted to appointment only to maintain social distancing requirements. Call 843-398-4000
• Palmetto Disaster Recovery Offices are opened in Marion and Conway with limitations. To apply, applicants must contact one of these two offices to schedule an appointment. For residents of Darlington County, applicants would need to contact the Marion Office at 803-609-1164 or 843-731-3550.
• Looking for employment? Keep SC Works Pee Dee in mind. Currently open by appointment. Email scworkspeedee@eckerd.org or call (843) 407-9679 for the Florence office or call (843) 309-9817 for the Hartsville office.
• Darlington County Community Action Agency has several programs available to help those in need during these difficult financial times. Click here to download the flyers. 843-332-1155
• If you know someone facing eviction and they need assistance, South Carolina Legal Services (SCLS) may be able to help. The CDC has halted evictions due to CVOID-19 concerns through Dec. 31, 2020. Call toll-free 888-346-5592 or by apply online at https://sclegal.org/.
  
  

GENERAL COVID-19 INFORMATION

The Census Bureau has launched a new tool - the COVID-19 Data Hub - designed to help guide the nation as it begins recovery efforts from the sweeping COVID-19 pandemic by providing economic and demographic data.

More Resources and Recent Releases: 

• Coronavirus (COVID-19) Pandemic Resource Page 
• Taking the Pulse of American Households During COVID-19
• Providing Perspective During COVID-19 Using Census Data

For general information about COVID-19, the World Health Organization, U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention and South Carolina Department of Health and Environmental Control are trusted sources of information. We encourage you to visit their websites for the most current and correct information.

• World Health Organization
• Centers for Disease Control  
• S.C. Department of Health & Environmental Control

DHEC Careline 855-472-3432: Get answers to common questions about the Corona Virus from 8 a.m. to 6 p.m. seven days a week.

If you are sick, MUSC Health offers a Virtual Visit to determine if you should leave home to seek medical attention if you think you may have been exposed to the Corona Virus. Use promo code "COVID19" at this link.

 

CITY SERVICES

While City Offices will be restricted to staff and appointments until further notice, individuals are encouraged to do all business by phone or email during this event. City staff will be available by phone and email, and essential services will not be interrupted. You can find updates here.

You may call the following numbers with service-related issues

• Emergencies, call 911
• Business Licenses - 843-398-4000 ext. 101
• Permits - 843-398-4029
• Water/Sewer, Normal Business Hours,  - 843-398-4040
• Water/Sewer, After 5 p.m.,  -  843-758-1127
• Fire, Non-emergency - 843-398-4013
• Police, Non-emergency - 843-398-4026
• Municipal Court - 843-398-4004
• Streets & Sanitation - 843-398-4035
• Media Inquiries - 843-992-1561

You may still pay your utility bill or traffic citation online here. City staff will disinfect public areas more frequently and have hand sanitizer available in public buildings. Garbage, recycling, and yard debris collection will remain on regular schedule.

CITY COURT RESUMES. Municipal Court will be held twice a day on Monday, Tuesday, and Wednesday at 9 a.m. and 2 p.m. at City Hall, 400 Pearl St., Darlington.

Due to COVID-19, the following rules will be in place:

• Only 25 defendants in the courtroom at a time.
• Everyone will be required to wear a face mask before entering.
• Social distancing will be enforced.

Download the DDRA Membership Application here. Download a Map Location Form for your business. Return to info@buildupdarlington.org or DDRA, P.O. Pox 57, Darlington, SC 29540.

To have your event listed on our websites, please email info@buildupdarlington.org or call 843-398-4000 x 103 by the week prior to your event.

Established in 1956, family owned, Thad Weinberg's Sausage makes our sausage using our family recipe. We sell pork products as well as process wild game at 1014 Pearl St. In Darlington. (843) 393-2544